Poster No:
1735
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Yi-Ling Chien1, Chi Chen1, Wen-Hao Chen1
Institutions:
1National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Chi Chen
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
Wen-Hao Chen
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
Introduction:
Evidence-based social skills training programs improve social communication skills in autistic adults. However, most effectiveness studies measured the intervention outcomes by questionnaires or clinical assessment. Whether the clinical improvement in social communication skills can reflect on changes in the brain connectivity waits to be examined. This study aims to investigate whether social skills training alters intrinsic connectivity in autistic adults.
Methods:
This study recruited 34 autistic adults (mean age 24.3 years; female n = 6, 17.6%) who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder accordingly to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth version. All participants have a full-IQ above 70 and are motivated to enhance their social skills. They completed 16-week social skills training program (the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, PEERS®) with their social coaches. Resting-state functional connectivity was examined by the 3T MRI before and after the training.
Results:
Using seed-based analysis to analyze intrinsic connectivity, we found decreased functional connectivity of several brain regions after the PEERS social skills training. First, using default mode network as a seed, we found that the precuneus had a decreased functional connectivity to right putamen, and that the medial prefrontal cortex had a decreased functional connectivity to right later occipital cortex after PEERS training. Using planum temporale of the auditory network as a seed, we found a decreased functional connectivity to frontal pole, middle frontal gyrus and precuneus after PEERS training. While using the right posterior superior temporal gyrus as a seed, there was a decreased functional connectivity to the middle frontal gyrus after PEERS social training. In addition, we tried independent component analysis. After PEERS social training, functional connectivity between the salience network and the right superior frontal gyrus decreased; whereas, functional connectivity between the sensorimotor network and the left lateral occipital cortex increased.
Conclusions:
In summary, decreased functional connectivity was found in several brain networks connecting to default mode network, auditory network, and salience network. In contrast, sensorimotor network had an increased functional connectivity to the left lateral occipital cortex. Social skills training may change the specific intrinsic connectivity in autism. Our preliminary findings worth further investigation and validation.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism)
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Cognition 2
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
fMRI Connectivity and Network Modeling 1
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI
Keywords:
Autism
Social Interactions
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
Chien YL, Tsai WC, Chen WH, Yang CL, Gau SS, Soong WT, Laugeson E, Chiu YN. Effectiveness, durability, and clinical correlates of the PEERS social skills intervention in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: the first evidence outside North America. Psychological Medicine. 2023 Feb;53(3):966-976.